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LEGENDRetired—
LEGENDRetired—Other·🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia·Born 1956
Sultan bin Salman Al Saud
First Arab in space (1985)
170h
Hours in Space
1
Missions
0
EVAs
—
EVA Time
The first day or so we all pointed to our countries. The third or fourth day we were pointing to our continents. By the fifth day we were aware of only one Earth.
Inspirations
What they aspire to
He aspires to build Saudi Arabia into a serious space-faring nation through the Saudi Space Commission.
Biography
First Arab, first Muslim, and first royal family member in space. Flew on Space Shuttle Discovery deploying the ARABSAT-1B satellite.
Before NASARoyal Saudi Air Force pilot with degrees in mass communications and social science before flying as ARABSAT payload specialist on STS-51-G in 1985.
Records & Firsts
Notable accomplishments by Sultan bin Salman Al Saud
- First Arab in space (1985)
- First Muslim in space
- First member of a royal family in space
Mission Timeline
- Payload Specialist
Space Shuttle Discovery
STS-51-G
Launch: Jun 17, 1985Landing: Jun 24, 1985Duration: 7 days- Deployed Arabsat-1B satellite
Beyond the Mission
Causes They Champion
Saudi space program developmentHeritage preservationDisability rights
Languages
ArabicEnglish
Awards & Honors
- Order of King Abdulaziz
- NASA Space Flight Medal
Authored
- Seven Days in Space(2014)
Fun fact
He was the first Arab, the first Muslim, and the first member of any royal family to fly in space — and at 28 the youngest person ever to fly on a Space Shuttle.
Item flown to space
A copy of the Qur'an, which he completed reading while in orbit aboard Discovery.
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